Welcome! My name is Karen Sobel, and I am a research and instruction librarian at the
Auraria Library in downtown Denver, Colorado. The Auraria Library serves the populations
of the University of Colorado Denver (my official employer), Metropolitan State College of Denver, and the Community College of Denver, as well as the public.
CV
View a copy of my current CV.
My "Primary Job"
At Auraria, I perform library instruction sessions for freshman composition, the first-year experience, English as a Second Language, psychology, and English literature courses. I also play a major role in instructional design efforts at the library.
Our "AskAuraria" IM-based reference service has increased in popularity almost continuously since its creation in July 2008. Along with our Web Librarian, Nina McHale, I continue to develop this offering. We have integrated it with our course pages and many other sites, so that students can communicate with librarians when and where they need them.
With Auraria colleagues Lorrie Evans and Gayle Bradbeer, I have developed a course for CU Online called "Navigating Library Research." The course focuses on general library research skills for students in all majors. The course is now available to students at all three Auraria Campus institutions. Contact me for information on the course.
A Special Honor
The University of Colorado - Denver has chosen me for its 2011 "Excellence in Librarianship" award. I am now also a candidate for the same award at the university level. Thanks, everyone!
Research
Along with Meg Grotti of the University of Delaware, I am investigating the ways librarians across the country integrate WorldCat Local library catalogs into their library instruction. As many academic libraries, including Auraria, are switching to WorldCat Local systems, this work has exciting and practical implications for library instructors.
I am honored to have been invited to co-present a workshop on research, publication, and professional development at the American Library Association's 2010 Annual conference in Washington, DC with Lisa Carlucci Thomas. Our presentation will be titled "Starting Out? Start With You: What Every New Librarian Needs to Know." This session will be a greatly expanded version of our 10-minute presentation at ALA Annual 2009. Stay tuned (or contact me) for details!
Publications and Presentations
Please see my vita for a current list of my scholarly work.
Past Honors
The Auraria Library chose me for its 2010 "Excellence in Service" award. Thanks to my colleagues!
The Association of College and Research Libraries named me its Member of the Week for 15-21 September, 2008. Thanks, ACRL!
Education
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill:
Master of Science in Library Science, 2007
Master of Arts in English, 2004
The Pennsylvania State University:
Bachelor of Arts with Honors in English, 2002
Minor in Psychology, 2002
Personal
I am an avid reader, letter-writer, knitter, chef (more or less), ragtime pianist, classic movie buff, and hiker. My favorite authors are Isabel Allende, Mark Helprin, J.K. Rowling, Shirley Jackson, and above all, Salman Rushdie. My husband Eric and I live in the Rocky Mountain foothills west of Denver.
